Carlsbad teen awarded for 'repairing the world'

CARLSBAD - "Tikkun olam" is a Hebrew phrase that translates as
"repairing the world," and some people say Carlsbad's Justin Sachs
exemplifies the Jewish axiom.

"My parents raised me that way," Sachs said last week. "My mom
started a nonprofit organization when I was five."

Sheri Sachs' Connors Cause for Children supports families of
children with life-threatening illnesses.

Justin Sachs is one of five Helen Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award
winners announced at a Diller luncheon Aug. 28 in San Francisco
(two are from San Diego County, including La Jolla's Amanda
Haworth). His difference in the community is already measurable at
age 19, and he was awarded a $36,000 cash prize for his work.

"My mom had the passion from the start," Sachs said. "My entire
life I have been around fundraising and nonprofits. Seeing her
passion really inspired me to do that as well."

The award selection was a rigorous, two-month process involving
essays concerning service and the applicant's motivation, securing
funding sources and recommendations from those whose lives have
been improved through their efforts.

When Craig Parks, youth coordinator at Encinitas' Temple Solel,
nominated him, Sachs' thoughts turned to how he could perpetuate
his charitable dreams if he won.

"In many ways it is the first real recognition that I have seen
for my work," Sachs said. "This award recognizes at a large level
community service in the community. That is something that we have
a need for."

Sachs founded The Peak Performance Lifestyles Foundation in 2006
and Parks found someone driven to further the charitable
organization. By partnering with the temple, Parks could mentor
Sachs' passion for giving back.

"He's always been committed to service," Parks said. "I asked
him to run our Tikkun project. He was incredible at our first
event. Justin got over 80 kids on a Sunday afternoon and secured a
DJ to donate his time, and all the food was donated. It was a
magical event. That really got us going."

Suzan Berns, a spokeswoman for the Diller Foundation, said the
enormous impact Sachs has made with his peers endeared him to
judges.

"Justin created so many different projects. How he got teens
every month doing things for other people is incredible," Berns
said. "He raised over $2,500 for Darfur and $3,500 for autism
through charity walks. Aside from providing a group of 40 young
people with continually running projects in the community, he
raises a lot of money."

Sachs' secret seems to be getting volunteers to partake in
activities that they enjoy.

"They're much more likely to do community service if they're in
Tijuana building a house, making 1,000 sandwiches for the homeless
or putting together care packages for soldiers in Iraq while having
a live DJ," Sachs said of his typical service soirees. "It's about
finding ways to make service fun. When we find more ways to do
that, we'll get more people involved."

Graduating in June 2006 from La Costa Canyon High School in
Carlsbad, Sachs is now studying peace and conflict studies at
Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.

"The program is amazing," he proudly said. "I have the
opportunity to lead and create a program focusing on elementary and
middle school students teaching them entry-level conflict
resolution."

This is the first year of what is intended to be an annual
Diller award, said Berns, the foundation spokeswoman. Sachs was
chosen from 75 statewide applicants because the foundation believes
Sachs and his inaugural class embody the ideals Diller aimed for in
creating the award.

"For Helen, service starts at an early age," Berns said. "Over a
lifetime what they can do to repair the world is limitless. It was
inspirational."

The prize money must be used for college or furthering
altruistic goals, she said.

"Either way it will further their vision of Tikkun Olam,
repairing the world," Berns said.

Sachs said he believes that if awards such as Diller's
proliferate, more youths would respond to service.

"When you look at the amount of scholarship and recognition our
college and high school sports players get, if we have more
scholarships like the Diller award, I think it will create more
inspiration and more motivation to get into community service and
make an impact," Sachs said.

Parks said that when he heard Sachs had won the award, his joy
in aiding in someone's lifetime of giving was overwhelming.

"To have such integrity, he is really quite something," Parks
said. "He's always been inspired by the Jewish concept of Tikkun
Olam and being a leader in service."